Add task. Do task. Check off task. Revolutionary.
When did to-do apps get so complicated? Projects, contexts, labels, priorities, subtasks, dependencies, recurring rules, natural language parsing, AI suggestions.
Sometimes you just want a list. Write things down. Cross them off. Feel good. Here are apps that remember the basics.
On your iPhone already. No download needed. "Hey Siri, remind me to buy milk." Done.
Lists. Tasks. Due dates. That's it. The definition of simple.
Learning curve: Zero.
In Gmail sidebar. See a task while checking email? Add it. Two clicks.
Simple lists. Due dates. Nothing else to configure.
Learning curve: Zero.
Simple task entry with one bonus: it makes completing tasks feel good. Gamification rewards without complexity.
The Purpose Wheel adds meaning without adding confusion. You don't need to set it up. It just works.
Learning curve: Minimal. Extra features are optional.
My Day feature shows today's tasks. That's usually all you need to see.
Can get complex if you want. Can stay simple if you don't.
Learning curve: Low.
Notion. Amazing tool. Not simple. Setup takes hours. Maintenance takes forever.
ClickUp. 50+ features. Most you'll never use. Overwhelming for basic task management.
Asana/Monday. Team project management. Overkill for personal tasks.
Obsidian. Note-taking paradise. Task management nightmare.
Any app with a "Setup Wizard." If it needs explaining, it's not simple.
Less friction. The faster you add a task, the more likely you'll capture it. Complex apps mean lost tasks.
Less decision fatigue. "Which project? What priority? What context?" Just add the task.
More action. Time spent organizing is time not spent doing. Simple apps bias toward action.
Sustainable habits. Complex systems are abandoned. Simple systems stick.
Want maximum simplicity? Try this:
No app needed. Paper works. But if you want an app, pick a simple one.
Productivity isn't about the perfect system. It's about doing things. Simple apps help you do things. Complex apps help you organize things you're not doing.